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Elections Simplified

Shall Judge BRYAN ADAMS of the JUSTICE OF THE PEACE DEPARTMENT 2 of the state of Montana be retained in office for another term?

Gallatin County, Montana
Retention race

What does this office do?

  • Deciding small-claims cases
  • Handling evictions, in many states
  • Ruling on traffic and minor criminal citations, where state law allows

Affects: Public Safety and Crime Control, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Housing Affordability,

Bryan Adams

Nonpartisan · Incumbent

Bryan Adams has been a Gallatin County Justice of the Peace since 2011 and earlier served as a municipal judge in Belgrade, Manhattan, and Three Forks. He has said judges should use sentencing to change behavior rather than only punish.

Track record

Track record — General

General · 4 records

  • Told the Gallatin County Commission on 2025-06-17 that the county administrator bullied staff and overstepped his role. Adams opposed renewing his contract; the commission renewed it 2-1.

    June 17, 2025

    Source: bozemandailychronicle.com

  • Kept his Justice of the Peace, Department 2 seat in a 2018-11-06 retention vote, with 91.15% of Gallatin County voters voting yes (41,343 to 4,015).

    November 6, 2018

    Source: gallatinmt.gov

  • Sentenced Troy Downing after his guilty plea to hunting-license violations. Adams ordered a $2,110 fine, an 18-month loss of hunting and fishing licenses, and a one-year deferred sentence.

    July 18, 2018

    Source: bozemandailychronicle.com

  • Won election as Gallatin County Justice of the Peace, Department 2, on 2010-11-02, defeating longtime incumbent Gordon L. Smith 14,881 votes to 8,929.

    November 2, 2010

    Source: gallatinmt.gov

Track record — Legal Competence

Legal Competence · 1 favorable · 1 unfavorable

  • Set bail in May 2020 for four men charged in a theft-ring case, including $500,000 for a Black defendant with no record. A district judge cut that bail to $25,000 on 2020-06-10 after protests called it excessive.

    June 10, 2020Unfavorable on Legal Competence

    Source: bozemandailychronicle.com

  • Denied former U.S. Senate candidate Troy Downing's request to dismiss hunting-license residency charges. He ruled the state could use Downing's tax returns and social media posts as evidence.

    July 12, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: bozemandailychronicle.com

Sources: gallatinmt.gov2 · mca.legmt.gov